Not just the artwork, but also the artists thoughts about the work, news about merchandise, and your chance to COMMENT ON IT ALL! Visit the website: http://creativeodditiesstudios.bigcartel.com you sick freaks!

Monday, October 1, 2012

A couple of years ago, my then 11 year old daughter went to an anime convention. She had a pocket full of birthday money and wanted to do some shopping. She is also one of those rare kids that thinks more about others than herself, so when she saw this t-shirt of a Marilyn Monroe zombie with the word "ZILF" below it, she knew it was the perfect thing for her dad. I loved that shirt, and thought the concept was both cool and funny. I'd been thinking about designing my own ever since, and just last month finally got around to it.

My ZILF! is based more on Betty Page, who I favor only slightly more than Marilyn Monroe. I decided also to get more into creating setting for the figures that I draw, again designing more toward the merchandise and less toward just the art. The result is three new products at Creative Oddities Studios, each with three different versions, depending on how afraid you are of breasts; nude for those who have no fear, pasties for those who like breasts but think nipples are the mark of the beast, and a bikini-top for those who feel that breasts should be tied-down lest they escape and reap havoc upon the villagers. The t-shirt comes in mens' sizes from small to 3X and start at $22.99. The sticker is 3X5" and are $3.99 each, and the posters are 23X35" at $19.99.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

The way it got started was that I used to work as a security-guard and a factory. I worked 2nd shift, and my shift consisted of one hour walking the plant followed by one hour sitting in an office and manning the phone. There was a LOT of down time, and I spent that time drawing.

One night, I was inspired by an infomercial for a product called "Curves". These were basically false-breasts, complete with sculpted nipples, made of a latex-gel that conformed to a woman's breast through her body-heat when placed in her bra. This would give her extra lift and add a couple of cup sizes. The comic was about a guy who had been taken in by these enhancements, only to have them fall in his lap when his paramour, lost in the moment, forgot she was wearing them.

I thought it was hilarious, as did apparently several fans I didn't know I had back then. There appreciation spawned an attempt at a regular strip which featured some direct references to my friends, in particular one Bud Weiser.

No, seriously. That's the guy's name.

Anyhoo, if there were a dozen strips by the time I gave it up, I'd be surprised. I found making comic strip to be time consuming, especially for a guy holding down a job, school, and several girlfriends. That, and it was hard to be funny each and every week. As usual, I had gone head-long into something, bit off more than I could chew, and had to shelve the idea for a little while.

A little while turned into about 10 years.

My friend, Bud, really liked the comics, and the idea of making a comic. He took the two main characters, "Jason" and "Bud", and in his own style did his own strip, "The Adventures of Bud and Jason" as seen on Tapeworm Studios on Facebook. The comic came in fits and starts because, hey, Bud has a life too.

Meanwhile, I kept being funny. I'd crack jokes to my kids, my friends, and my girlfriend, making comments on things we saw and telling ridiculous stories. My girlfriend thought that stand-up comedy might be something to look into, and I studied the art for a short time and got in the habit of writing ideas down... bits for what could have been my stand-up routine. Still, I never fully embraced the idea of doing stand-up, especially since I was already juggling so many other balls in my life.

One day, Bud got in touch with me. He was (and still is) working on a book of comic-strips, and he wanted to mine what I had done years ago for ideas, along with my blogs on tattooing and what-not. I agreed, and I checked out what he had done so far. Seeing these characters again, well, it got me itching to get back into comic strips. My daughter, Gabrielle, further encouraged this idea. She has recently took a real interest in comic-books, and was amazed that I had drawn some strip and gave it up.

So, I pulled together all the stuff I had made a decade ago, the original strips with one cell per page on photocopy paper, different sketches and notes I had made, etc. I also pulled out my stand-up comedy ideas, and I began writing. In a day, I came up with about two dozen ideas worth making into comic strips, ideas good enough that they immediately invoked images in my mind.

Only a few were revisions of old strips, the rest being new ideas featuring "Jason", "Bud", and "Tyler" (the character from the first strip I had done). I had developed what I consider a fairly distinctive style, artistically, which while far more simple than my regular artistic efforts was also a bit more complex than many comic strips. I began studying how to make comics, looking for ways to reduce the labor and time involved.

I ran across and essay written by Bill Watterson, the creator of "Calvin and Hobbes", who discussed his process. First, his process is very low-tech, using just three different kinds of pens and brushes. Second, he doesn't do the complete drawing in pencil first, rather he sketches out the basic cell and then finishes it in ink. I was in the habit of drawing the cell out fully and then inking the art. Third, he draws his art to size, using a template for his cells and strips. While bigger than the size the strip will be printed in, it is smaller than the 8X10" format of my cells, cutting down on time and effort. Despite these time-saving techniques, Mr. Watterson might only make 6 strips a day. This suggested to me that, with practice, I could do more than a strip a day (or two days), but also that even for a professional it takes time to do a strip.

Other artists are a bit more high-tech, and I borrowed ideas from them as well. I created a template for my cells, just all 11X14" bristol board witn four 4X6" rectangles cut out of it. I use this template for both vertical and horizontal cells. Next, borrowing from Mr. Watterson, I draw in the text first. I do this just to get an idea of the size and placement of the speech-bubbles, the text itself gets filled in on Photoshop. I sketch in the characters and other elements with a pencil, finishing them in ink.

For backgrounds and foregrounds, especially since I will be using the same settings over and over again, I decided to draw certain settings with no characters or additional elements. For example, "Jason" is a tattoo artist who works at a shop. Many of his strips will open with him drawing at a counter waiting on a customer. Behind him are tattoo stations, small rooms for tattooing. I drew all this out on an 11X14" board, and then scanned it into my computer. Now, when I do a tattoo-shop comic, I just need to drop the background behind the characters and add whatever elements I want. If a character has a particular default pose (like Jason drawing at the counter), then this is also scanned into the computer as a distinct element for easy use later on.

I ink the drawings using a Micron pen and a sharpie, correcting with White-Out when needed. All other clean-up is done in Photoshop, as is the cell-formatting for the finished strip. The finished strip is saved in at least two sized, one high resolution for eventual merchandising, and one low resolution for use on the web. I've managed to do about three strips a day, and since I only need to do one a week, I am well ahead of my deadline.

I posted two of the strips on the series's current home: http://sorrellcomics.blogspot.com. Like almost any project I engage in, it has to earn its own way. Eventually, I'd like the strip on its own web-site, which is why I did not place it on my main page. In order to merit a website of its own, it needs to earn about $10 a month. Meanwhile, I am collaborating with Bud again, and have my process down to a routine. Some merchandise, mostly prints of the strips, is in the works. Check out the comic and comment when you get the urge.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Jason Sorrell of Creative Oddities Studios has designed three new posters featuring some of his fans favorite pieces. These posters are a huge 23X35", larger than any print or poster we have offered in the past, and they are selling for just $19.99 plus shipping and handling. Get yours by visiting our website: www.creativeodditiesstudios.com.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

I think I have talked about trying to get into the local art-scene here in Austin, Texas in past blogs. It's not really that difficult. All you really need to do is show-up and participate. Lately, I have found myself busy with so many other priorities that doing something as simple as showing-up and participating just hasn't happened the way I might like.

For roughly a year now, I have noticed numerous billboards around the city featuring art work instead of ads. Austin is known for this kind of thing; you can read poetry on the signage while you ride the bus. I thought it was just another city-commissioned project and didn't think much more about it. The, around June 23rd, I started to notice some new signs:

AUSTIN ART BOARDS

Submit Your Art

Deadline, June 29th

Well, not that exactly, but you get the idea. This organization was having a call for artists. They must have had a call for artists last year, I missed it... And I was about to miss it again. I came up with a concept almost immediately; a female-DJ shown from a skewed-perspective at a turntable as dancing silhouettes partied in front of the Austin skyline. I just had to make time during the next 6 days to bring the concept to fruition.

The girl, of course, was the easy part. I know next-to-nothing about DJ turntables and equipment, which I am certain is obvious from her set-up. The silhouettes and the skyline took more effort, with the music and the bats being added as the image developed. The required format, 6x24", was a bit awkward. I look at it and it still looks "off" to me because of its size.

Still, my circle of friends approved, and it was off to the printers. I could have submitted a digital-file, but the guidelines strongly suggested that a print would be the way to go. 80% of the selected entries last year were submitted as prints... something about the judges being able to see the textures. Actually, one of the sponsors offered a discount for printing and another met the other requirement; mounting and matting, so it was in the best interests of those sponsoring the project that the artist availed themselves of local printing and formatting services.

But, what are you going to do?

While I was submitting my piece, another artist came in with their own. Pressed for time, I didn't strike-up a conversation with the guy, but his submission was truly bad-ass. They are selecting several for display on billboards around town, and all will be displayed at http://austinartboards.org, but I found myself thinking how cool it would be to see his art on a billboard around town.

Anyhoo, if my piece is one of the pieces selected, you'll see a picture of me in front of it here in the future. Check out the Austin Art Boards link, and look for my pic in front of my billboard if I get selected right here in the future.

Friday, May 18, 2012

The Jason Sorrell Coloring Book for Adults is here! It is 98 pages, 72 of which feature a single image created by Jason Sorrell representing a decade of erotic, demonic, and tattoo design. Mr. Sorrell wanted to collect the best of his work in one volume, but given the costs or producing a full-color book and his tattoo-oriented formatting (line-art), he wasn't certain how to approach the project. A night of binge-drinking with friends lead him to his on this idea... a coloring book for adults!

Now, this is unlike any coloring book you had as a kid. First, this is not newsprint. No, this is premium white paper stock, pristine enough to be added directly to your collection of art tomes. Jason also takes the time in the back of the book to tell you a little about each image and about his creative process, something the truly masochistic will appreciate.

Oh, and of course the art work is monsters, demons, breasts, and other naughty-bits not appropriate for children. You'll love it!

Get yourself two copies; one to color and one to keep on your shelf. Put something interesting on your 'fridge!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

The reigning best-selling sticker at Creative Oddities Studios happens to be the little beauty on the left there. It is called "Dead Girls Don't Say 'No'", a concept that was inspired by a t-shirt promoting the band "Cradle of Filth". I actually created 2 versions, one nude and one wearing a black bikini. I expected the clothed version to sell better than the nude (most people are squeamish about displays of nudity in pop-art), but the nude sticker is the only sticker that has actually sold. It seems most popular to buyers in the UK.

Crazy, right?

I couldn't even begin to tell you why it is so popular. I look at it now and all I see are problems I wish to correct, a common malady of all artists, or so I've been told. Given that I have been in a zombie-drawing streak, I'll probably release and updated version in the near future. My girlfriend asked what it is about zombie-girls that I find appealing.

Honestly, I'm not certain.

My first response is that the concept is simply humorous in a titillating fashion. There's the juxtaposition of corrupted beauty (scars, bite marks), sexual appeal (nudity, femininity), and danger (zombies eat the flesh/brains of the living). Humor, I have heard, is mostly about surprise. Sexually attractive rotting killing machines is an unusual combination.

My first encounter with a female zombie in fiction was the film Return of the Living Dead 3. My drawing of the zombie-girl from that film can be found in my "Beloved Dead" post in this blog. The zombie in Return of the Living Dead 3 was extremely sexually appealing as well as at times violent. I believe that some probably find that mixture appealing. There is also an aspect of tragic-love in the mix; despite this seemingly indomitable handicap (your lover is dead and likes to eat living brains) you manage to stay by her side and care for her. It's like Romeo and Juliet with a twist.

Drawing zombie-girls also presented a means to step away from drawing demon-girls. Don't get me wrong, I love demon-girls, but there seems to be a limited appeal to them among my fans. Granted, the appeal of zombie-girls is also limited, but the combined demographics are broader with the zombie-girls having a slightly larger fan-base.

Don't ask me why.

Above is my next zombie-girl design. I made this exclusively for the purpose of acknowledging my friends' birthdays on Facebook and elsewhere. I got the idea to share a little example of what I do in a birthday greeting from the musicians of "A Fallen Mind" who sent to me a birthday song on my birthday that was hilarious. The birthday greeting is usually accepted positively, though I wonder what some people's family members think when they see my zombie-girl posted on their relative's wall.

One of the things I found disappointing about the first design was that it did not translate well to a t-shirt. I've been slow to do t-shirt designs because of the limitations of my printing resource, which is 10X10" max printed dead center of the shirt. Most of my designs, even at 10" high, are only a few inches wide, resulting in something that reminds me of Iron Man's chest piece. I have been working on a few designs which are more horizontal and formatted to be situated in the top-half of that 10" square.

The latest version of "Dead Girls Don't Say 'No'" is the first of these shirt-specific designs to be released. I decided that 3 figures would help spread out the design, and to align the text to the side of the figures (the vertical alignment would have resulted in the image being smaller and still dead-center... no pun intended). The two figures on either side were almost simple silhouettes with glowing eyes, but drawing all the figures seems to have been the better way to go.

Even though the nude sticker design has been the most popular, I am thinking that most people would be less keen to wear a nude image on their shirts, if only because wearing such a shirt becomes less practical for display in certain places. So, I am offering two versions of the design, one nude and one "clothed". Sure, they are clothed in skimpy fetish lingerie, but they are clothed. And, while I do see how clothing on zombie-girls takes an already ridiculous concept to a whole new level of unbelievability, it is more appealing than torn jeans and blood-stained t-shirts. The shirts are available as men and women's t-shirts, long-sleeved t-shirts, and pull-over hoodies.

Friday, February 17, 2012

I ask this question, having already formed my own opinion. I had read a post or two on the hollywoodilluminati.com and thought then that this had to be a parody mash-up of conspiracy-theory sites and TMZ style "news". Having recent dealings with the blog's author, one "creoleguy32", I delved further into this hole-in-the-Internet and discovered that he is as serious as a retarded heart-attack.

What prompted my exchange with this... person was a blog post on Deviantart.com by a person I follow, Roman Helmet. RH was complaining about how his artwork had been used on hollywoodilluminati.com as an example of Satanic symbolism and color-scheme as used in Madonna's 2012 Super Bowl Halftime Show. As offended as RH was about the art being used without permission, he was also offended by it being used in this context. The artwork in question is Satanic in nature. Madonna's Halftime Show was not.

That being said, there has been a minor outbreak of posts like this on Deviantart and elsewhere decrying the use or outright theft of artwork. Some bloggers have actually compiled lengthy lists of offenders and have petitioned communities like Deviantart to black-ball these thieves. In most cases, the artwork being used has been retooled or is being offered for sale by the thief as their own original effort.

That is not cool.

Hollywoodilluminati.com was not doing this. The blog merely featured artwork as an example in reference to what it was discussing; Satanic imagery. When I read RH's blog, I went to hollywoodilluminati.com to see what piece of RH's had been used. I found it, along with another familiar piece.

Yep, there was one of my OLD designs from over a decade ago.

I have no problem with my artwork being used in this manner. I used to. Man, the hoops I jumped through to keep my stuff from being used without my permission were ridiculous. I inserted codes onto my web-pages that prevented the ability to "right-click" and save an image. I posted images with just enough resolution to be legible. ﻿I placed digital water-marks on my work. The sad thing was that for every precaution I took to protect my work, I found a way around it on my own.

Eventually, I realized it wasn't worth the fight. Most of these blogs and sites that have to borrow work on the 'net could not afford to pay for its use. If they could, they would hire an artist. Indeed, the reality is that such use might actually help promote the work, which is kind of why artists make art in the first place. I have been considering for some time now simply offering the digital versions of my work on my site freely to anyone who wishes to have them for their own sites or blogs. My only stipulations would be that they do not try to market the work for profit and that they credit myself and my site.

And therein is my only complaint about hollywoodilluminati.com's use of my work. It doesn't give credit to the artist. Now, to be fair, when your pulling an image from the Google that has been lifted and re-lifted by hundreds of sites tracking down the original artist is next to impossible. Still, if you have any integrity, you could then simply only use the work of artists you could identify.

Integrity is not, apparently, part of hollywoodilluminati.com's agenda.

Here's what I think. The particular piece of mine that this guy opted to use is my own rendering of the "Sigil of Baphomet" made famous by the Church of Satan, so much though that it is considered their un-official logo (the Church of Satan has an official logo, but this symbol has been used so much on their publications that it overshadows the symbol they actually own). I think that hollywoodilluminat.com would have opted to use the Church of Satan's "Sigil of Baphomet", but since they don't know what I know (that the CoS does not own the symbol), they chose to use my stylized version.

Hollywoodilluminati.com probably did not want the CoS to sue, even though the CoS would have no grounds for a lawsuit. Going up against an organization that has been around for decades is a little more daunting that being opposed by one lone artist.

When I saw my art on this blog, I was simply amused. Still, other people were angry, so I decided as a friendly gesture to drop creoleguy32 a note advising him of some of the artists concern about the use of their work. I mentioned that I had no problem with the use of my work, although it would have been cool if he tracked me down and gave me props. He responded with the following:

"Listen buddy, for your sake I suggest you get out of my face. I dont run ads on this site and I do not profit from this site. I am making no money off any of your “art work” and being that it is Fair Use Clause because it is related to news, I think you need to get a life and tell Google to stop making it free online. I am using it as part of a narrative and no one is knocking down my door to buy your silly “art”."

Wow! Can anyone say "anger-issues"? I wasn't being a dick, so I see no reason for this guy to respond in this manner, other than maybe he is a nut who has been harassed for his opinions by far too many people. Now, as a default response, he lashes out at the slightest suggestion of impropriety.

For those who might be curious, I looked up the "Fair Use Clause" from the US Copyright office:

Fair Use Clause

107: Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair Use

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 106, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phone records or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use, the factors to be considered shall include:

1.The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;

2.the nature of the copyrighted work;

3.the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and

4.the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. (added pub. l 94-553, Title I, 101, Oct 19, 1976, 90 Stat 2546)

So, they guy is right, if somewhat angry about it. My point was that it would have been the cool thing to do to credit the artists for their work. I didn't threaten a lawsuit or any form of retribution. The discourtesy was totally uncalled for.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Rene Magritte famously painted an image of a pipe with the words "Ceci n'est pas une pipe." below it. This translates from French to "This is not a pipe". The painting, titled "The Treachery of Images" (or sometimes translated as "The Treason of Images"), serves to illustrate that an image of a thing is not the thing itself. An image invokes in our minds the memories and experiences we associate with the image, thus every work of art is different to each viewer who brings with them their own unique perspective. A work of art is not complete until it is viewed. It has no meaning until an observer ascribes one to it. When an artist creates a piece, he or she may be trying to communicate a certain message to the viewer, but in the end the meaning is completely out of the creator's hands.

If you see something depicted that offends you, you have no one to blame but yourself.

My work is often "erotic". I am a Fetish Artist, and I create work that is sexually explicit in nature. I do not shy away from displays of the human body, genitalia, or the sex-act. All of these things are common to the human experience; we've all see it and the vast majority of us have indulged in it. Art is a reflection of life, and these things are also life. Yet, many people are embarrassed to see a depiction of what I consider the power and beauty of the female being and are often reproachful about my work or the work of artists like myself.

But, as you see in this image, this is not fellatio. It is an image of what may be a woman's mouth. The image of the mouth is displayed open, and from the image of the mouth there appears to be an empty space matching the image of the opening and extending to the far edge of the image. I left that space intentionally blank. You fill it in with your mind. You bring to the image the missing piece. You complete the image in any manner you choose. If you are offended, you have no one but yourself to blame.

The space could be a depiction of air, fire, or even a white laser ushering forth from the mouth. It could be a depiction of words, singing, or the spirit. It could be any of these things, but if your mind put something else there, something more profane, then you are a pervert. That is not a condemnation, I think we all need to embrace our inner pervert and be a little less prudish and a little more appreciative of the simple joys our bodies make available to us. Sadly, even the idea that you are a pervert will be distressing to some. You have been programmed well.

Friday, January 20, 2012

I have a friend who has been very appreciative of my artwork over the last few years, and probably my most regular tattoo client. He expressed an interest in curvy women, and enjoys my Demon Girls, so, for his birthday, I drew this. Unfortunately, his birthday was back in October, which is the last time our schedules allowed us to get together. I thought I would publish it so he could see it, as well as show-off the finished digital version.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

There are going to be a few links in this post, so check them all out.

With the new year I decided that it was time to get back into the groove, especially since it seems that I have fallen out of that groove since November 2011. Prepping for the holidays can be all-consuming. One of the directions I have gone in these past few weeks is paying more attention to my FetLife account. FetLife, as the name implies, is a community serving people with an interest in the BDSM, fetish, and erotic-play lifestyle. I show off some of my artwork there, and check out other artists.

One of the cats I am really digging is Shayne, as in "of the dead". His work has an old-school tattoo edge to it that really appeals to me. One of the things this guy is into is ACEOs, which stands for "Art Cards, Editions and Originals". Art Cards are small (usually 3.5 X 2.5") pieces of artwork sold or traded by their creators and collectors. WAY back in the day, like the 16th Century, most artwork was portable. Guys carried around small paintings of their mistresses and what not. The Mona Lisa was toted all over the place by Di Vinci. The trend waned until the mid-1700s when artists began using Art Cards for advertising and to trade among their peers as a means of sharing styles and techniques. In the early 19th Century, baseball cards became popular, which in turn gave Art Cards a shot in the arm. Collectors started seeking out and trading these miniature masterpieces among themselves.

Today, there is a thriving Art Card community and market. My man Shayne described making art cards as "a small portable way of always being able to create". My limited experience confirms this, as well as being a way to crank out a quick piece while your sitting around at a convention or waiting on your espresso.

So, I decided to give it a shot.

Beautiful, huh? And so tiny! Cute little pocket erotica... that's what they are.

These are done in my favorite medium, pencil, on bristol board. Each is 3.5 X 2.5". I will be printing a limited run of 52 of each image, signed and numbered. The originals I will be keeping until another artist presents an original Art Card to trade or until I have made enough of them that I decide it is time to auction them off.

The prints I am giving away.

I want to have fun with this, not to make a new marketing venture out of it. So, here's the deal. Anyone who sends me a self-addressed stamped envelope before I run out of each edition will get ONE card. I'll update this blog letting you know how many are left. I plan creating new designs in the future and continuing to offer the limited prints for free, so subscribe to the blog.

1/19/2012: I just kicked this off yesterday, and I am getting email requests to hold prints for some collectors. I will hold a print for one week after receiving your email. The number below reflect both local collectors who have gotten their cards and email requests. You can email me at sorrellart@hotmail.com.

"Bound". 14 of 52 remain.

"Cat o' Nine Tails". 22 of 52 remain.

"Horse". 9 of 52 remain.

Update 01/25/2012: I created three more erotic art cards. Same deal as the ones above. Oh, and if you are an artists interested in trading prints or originals, contact me.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Last year, on my birthday, I received hundreds of birthday well-wishes from friends and family on Facebook. One of the coolest birthday well-wishes I received was from A Fallen Mind. I don't want to say that A Fallen Mind is a band, as it seems to be mainly just one guy making music (although he has a female vocalist and a guitar player on board for some tracks). I also don't want to say that he is a musician. He is a musician, but that is not all that is done under the A Fallen Mind banner. You'll have to just click the link and check it out.

Anyhoo, he sent me a video of a birthday song A Fallen Mind put together. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOTHERFUCKER!" was hilarious. It also got me thinking. Instead of just saying "Happy Birthday" in some generic message on my wall, this guy sent me something that used my birthday as an opportunity to showcase what it is they do. I decided that I needed to do something like that for Creative Oddities Studios.

So, I put the above design together. While I was working on this ( I started it after the 1st week of January), I threw together a temporary design using the "Tattoo Freaks" design that those who follow my Subdermal Blog are familiar with. I am much happier with this zombie-fetish design, and I am just waiting for someone to have a birthday so I can put it on their wall.